Identification of errors in prescription writing and drug – drug interactions in given prescriptions in training of under graduate medical and dental students

Background: This study was carried out to determine the significance of training undergraduate medical and dental students in prescription writing and to identify the errors in prescription writing and types of drug-drug interactions in a prescription to allow safety of the patients and prevent adverse drug reactions. Methodology: The study was conducted in Pharmacology Department, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi. The participants include 70 MBBS undergraduate students and 50 BDS undergraduate students. In the given prescriptions the students were made to identify errors and drug- drug interaction in given prescriptions pre and post demonstration assessment was done. They were given the task to identify errors (Score 0-8) and drug - drug interactions (Score 0-20) in the given prescriptions and responders and non-responders were marked (pre and post demonstration). Demonstration was given to students regarding errors in prescription writing and drug- drug interactions and again number of prescriptions were shown to them. Scores were recorded and statistical analysis was done by applying paired students t - test. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need for medical educator to properly train the juniors (under graduate Medical and Dental College students) to avoid the errors in prescription and drug – drug interactions while writing prescriptions for patients safety and to avoid adverse drug reactions.